bouson



H. H. BOUSDN. AUTOMOBILE ToRPEno. AEPLICATION FILED IAN.26` 19H.

Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- l/8 /6 ZZ /9 Inma/11507:

H. H. BOUSON. AUTOMOBILE VTORPEDO. 'APPLICATION flu-:0' xmas. 19u.

Pafnted May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 I/wefzm".

y' HERBERT H. Bonson, or THE rr To all whomc' mayconcern:

913e it known thatI, HERBERT H. BoUsoN,

the United States Navy, and a resident of y Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented newvandnseful Improvements in Automox'bileTorpedoes; and in order thatl others skilledy in ythe yart. may understand, and pracg-tise Imyinvention I give the following de- ,fscription and specification thereof.

.l Y- iMy invention relates to torpedoes carrying-i their own motive power and generally kllOWnasfautomobile torpedoes. As is well ,lmoWnsuch. torpedoes have their steering `vmechanism controlled by a gyro'scope, rotatjing' ata suiicientspeed to maintain a directive ,force for controlling the steering @mechanism of the torpedo. (For conveny.,ie'nce the term gyro will be employed in- .steadz of gyroscopemin .the following specication andcIaimS.)

fhasbeen to, spin the gyro at the moment momentary impulse 'from the com- `-pressed-airmotive power ofthe torpedo, )this impulse being applied through a turbine por otherjspinning device connected with the gyro. f This initial y momentary impulse was depended upon to give they gyro sufficient speed to enable it to "maintain, by its momen- K- tum, a' rate of speed sufficient to-maintain .Y vvits directive force throughout the run of the g k torpedo. As the minimum rate of speed of `zthe ygyrov for maintainingits directive force 'is' about 4000 R. P. M. it will be apparent that the initial impulse` required will be suchvas will start the gyroat a considerably ffhigher rate of'speed, since owing to air-re- 4 I .sistance, friction, etc., the gyro will con- :stantlypdrop in speed. In practice, the gyro i Lisgiven. a sufficient starting impulse to start it at J-about.l8,000 R. P. M., this rate con- .f`allen,to or below the minimum rate before ementioned. Developments in the art of tor- 1 increased' the .range of torpedoes so that this droppin speed ofthe' gyro has become a serious defect. Inanother application for patent I 'have described means for positively driving'sthe gyro at a practically constant speed throughout the .run `of the torpedo,

AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

Specification of -Letters Patent.

, and from a source of a citizen Vof the United States, an oihcer of -l Prior to-i my invention the usual'practice.

of.f discharging thev torpedo by a powerful.

stantlydecreasing until toward the end ofy fthe run of the torpedo the gyro speed has j pedoengines andfmotive power-have now` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATESy N AVY, .ASSIGNOR T THE UN ITI-lll)i STATES OF AMERICA.

Patented May ,20, 1919.

Application led January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,795.

power within the torpedo. The object of my present invention is, broadly, to provide means for starting the gyro from a source of power outside the torpedo and for automatically disconnecting the gyro from the outside source of power and transferring it to driving connection with the source` of power inside-the torpedo. Various important improvements and advantages in torpedo construction and operationk are secured by'my invention, as broadly stated. These form other objects of the present invention and will more spccifically'ap- `pear in thefollowing specification. Among them are included the elimination of ythe g Yro-starting mechanism from the torpedo itself with resulting simplificationv of the torpedo construction; a. simplication of the ygym-unlocking mechanism heretofore assooiated with. the starting mechanism; the Y avoidance of the shock to the delicate gyro mechanismthrough elimination of the heavy starting impulse; and the transfer 'of the gyro to its driving connections'within the torpedo without disturbance of the gyro, and without loss of gyro speed. Other objects and advantages ofvmy invention will appear inthe following detailed description thereof.

In kthe accompanying drawings l I have shown an example of my invention, it being understood that the particular mechanism shown is by way of illustration and not limitation. Referring to said drawings, Figure I is -a partial ,transverse cross-sectional view of a torpedo, parts being shown in elevation, and other parts being broken awayto more clearly illustrate .the features thereof.- Fig. II is a cross-sectional View showing part of the construction illustrated'v in Fig. I, together with other parts. outside ,the torpedo coperating therewith. Fig.

III is a detailed view, parts being shown in section,l of a gyro-locking and releasing mechanism. Fig. IV is an end view `ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. IIIlooking from the left. v y

Referring to Fig. I of the drawings, 1 indicates the body or shell of the torpedo, insideA of which is suitably mounted the gyro 2 contained in a pot or housing 3.A The detailed construction of the gyro need not be particularly described as itis well understood by those skilled in the art. It will be sufficient to state that the gyro-wheel 2 is mounted in suitable lgimbal rings so las tto" have the necessary freedom of movement in order to'enable it to exert itscontrolling eect upon the steering mechanism of the deviations likel vto occur is in the form of .a gyro-motor, the inner gimbal ring of which carries vfield coils 5 and the gyro-wheel 2 lforming 'the rotor.

The gyro is dynamo 4,-suitably mounted vwithin the torpedo andfactuated by suitable driving connections (not shown) from the mainv engines `or yfrom an intermediate part,or from vthe motive power of the torpedo. v Thegrelative position ofthedynamo 4 isfnot intended-to be shown y inv the drawing,

be drivenfby'the dynamo, as

f dynamo litself and its drivingconnections infthemselves form a'fpart of the presentinunnecessary to the l'understandin of :the

present invention; It will be su' tact pins 6 and- 7 in fthepivotsan'd bearings of the inner vr'and -'outer ginibal rings, respec- -K and suitable form `of energy Vfor driving the gyro, either from inside or outside the torlpedo,`mechanical energy maybe employed yV substituting 'suitable mechanical 'connec- 'tions-without departing from'thebroad features of my invention.

For carrying out 'my present invention lin enabling the gyro to vbe driven either Vfrom a source of'power outside the torpedo or Va source of power inside the torpedo, and

"to'enabl'e the gyro being shifted from one source of power t'o 'the other,

flangei collar 14, suitably secured 'to-fthe! inside wall of the `torpedo shell 1. The

Y collar V14 surrounds an'opening' in the shell of the torpedo through which the fmecha` nism inclosedby the-casing 13 is exposed The outer t0 the exterior of the torpedo. conformation of this exposed` portion of said mechanism correspondsI to the conformation 'o'f the vbody of Vthe'to-rpcdc) 'as' 'will appear z from the drawings. The collar 14 is interithreaded to engage with a cylindrical latter is held kin vplace electrically driven from a buty only the "manner of 'its connections with the gyro; As ythe yparticular construction ofthe gyro enabling it to lwell 'fas/thel particular description yof lthe` ,y join't with the' fmember', hereinafter 1de'- vention, va -detai'led description 'thereof is cient `vto 'that the eld windings 5,'5 carried by the 'inner vgimbal ring `ofthe gyro arec'onne'cted through axially-'mounted con- 'i by conductors 11 and 12y to -the I provide a a shifting or transferring device' 10. lInJtheV by the @diner/r. The

insulating block.v 15 is bored longitudinally mounted conducting pieces 18, 19, and 20', 21. Interposed between inv 'block 22, and a similar insulating block "pieces 19 and20 are recessed to provide space 1 ends v`bearingu'p'on insulating-caps -26 and l27 screwed intothe inner ends ofv the recesses '16 and .17," respectively` Therecesses v16 -to form ychan'ibersYor recesseswfland 17 in i i. which yare slidably rthe conducting pieces 18 and 19 is an insulatand 17 extend-throughfsaid block "15 toit-he` outside of the torpedo, the Iou't'erportions to receive vcontarzt vpluri-gers@30 `Vand'33'1 (see l `vvFig. Hf) -Thefinsulating'- block 515 lis further 'in provided Ywith ia VYwith thefniain-engines, or otherwise, do not scribed, 'carrying 37 ,133 and 39, '40. fThese contact one position of the conducting -p1'eces i18. '19 and 120, 21 -bothfpi'n's 37 iand-'i38make`elec trical'contact with'conductingfpiece'19:and i 'cal Contact 'ffwith rconductingpiece 21,1rf1as tively, with 'conducting pieces-18 andl 20, while pins f 38 fand 40'l 'make 'cont`act, f're'Spec-- f tively,

with lcon c lucting f pieces-19 :and-.21- the; conducting pieces 1S f and 1:9 lbeinglrelecftrically v'sep aratedlby the interposed insulat- -ing pieceV 22,an'd itheconducting 'piece's'jlLZ() and 21`being similarly electrical yfseparated by theinsulatinglpiece 23. T-hecon# s 'tact pins 37 the dynamov 41 and :gyro-motor fas foll'ows: 'Conductor 11 leading from one'lbnushlflof 38,' 39 fand 40, are 'connected with,

conducting .piece to contact -'pin *13 to contact pin 'infthefgimbalring'pivots 'of the-fgyro,'throughtheSgyro-andllitseld. windings 5 to the i lower :gimbal'fring i pivots, i

thencefto contact the '1 contact' plungersflO and 31. The insulatinglblock-i15 is' bored f yradially-to receive u'bushings '33,ff34and35, `36, in which are respectivelyfmountedfcon# jtafc'tpins p 95 pins sareVy "so arranged, 'respectivly, 'thatill ypin 39 throughi conducting'.

piece 21, then to contact pin `4Of-andthence i that f in the position of the iparts n as shown back `through conductor 1121to thejoth'er brush ofthe dynamo 4. Itwillrthus'befseen Vto make water-tight joint .445 [and its sleeve 43.

' Y y; rial bored toreceive j leads V51 and 52 leading therefrom tofthe outer end of the plug where they are conlar'anjd k f" 58.,.in-'t through the insulating block and through p The project- ``ing endofshaft 59 carries, a cam and pin j `6,0 that engages with adjusting mechanism i (not shown) Within the torpedo for adjustf .ing thelangle "fgvve the ltorpedo. a course inclined to the line ire. By this means this mechanism may l be adjusted or set by rotating shaft 56, which extends through plug and cap 55, andy has its outerend provided with a hand wheel v or crank anda measuri ""i'for thatY purpose. v

f As before vindicated my invention. of pro- ,inFig Ithe dynamo 4 is connected through theshifting device 10 to the gyro-motor so torpedo.

I y yf 'In ordery that they gyro may also be ini- -tially drivenV or spun by a source of power foutsideof the gyro while the torpedo is still in thedischarge tubeor elsewhere, prepara- :tory to its discharge, I provide the follow- '1ing;mechanismf'shown 1n Fig. II of the fdra'wings, wherein by way of example, 41 i shows a portion of the torpedo tube. This ytube is provided with the surrounded by a flanged collar 43, the vend portion of which lis screw-threaded, as y shown, to engagel with an adjusting sleeve f' Preferably, the screw-threaded engage- `V 'ment between i -the collar 43 -thread type, similar to that on the breech 'f closures of guns, :to enable said collar topbe -moved inana'xial direction, as will lmore l fully'- appear. I ment with a= plug 45, slidably mounted iw-ithin'said collar 43, by means I6-formed on the plug, 4 ,I cessed to lreceive said flange with a ring 47 at the rear '.f-f f, ring-17 also provides bling or `disassembling the parts.

lateral opening the adjusting sleeve 44 and is of the interrupted screw- Sleeve 44 has also engage-` of a flange said sleeve bein re- 46 and provided of the flange 46. means for assem- The4 plug -y 45V has limited longitudinal movement in the v sleeve r43, studs 48being provided gage the longitudinal key-ways 49, limitthat en- `ing Vthe longitudinal .movement of plug 45 bythe length Vof said taining the plug in definite radial position.

ways, and also main- Apacki'ng ring and gland is provided at 50 |between the plug The core of plug 45 is of insulating mateplungers 30 and 31, and

' fnect'ed with 'an outsideY source of current by liexible yconductors 53, 54, the latter passing through apertures in a cap 55. Also ing through assplug 45, and axially theregf, is a shaft 56, the inner end '57 of which is angli- `rojects into a mating angular socket 11e end of a shaft 59, extending casingI 13 inside the torpedo.

of the vsteering mechanism to g device (not shown) viding for initially spinning or starting the gyro by a source of power` outside the torpedo also enables a simpliication and improvement of the gyro-locking and unlocking mechanism. I-Ieretofore, where gyros have been initially spun or started by the compressed air or other motive power inside the torpedo, an automaticunlocking means to unlock the gyro after thek initial spinning impulse had been imparted to it, hasl formed apart of such initial spinning mechanism. Such unlocking means and the proper timf ing of its action .has necessarily involved.

complicationof parts. By dispensing with starting mechanism inside the torpedo I am enabledto provide a simpler and more reliable unlocking means. These means are illustrated in Figs. III and IV, wherein the gyro is partially indicated .in broken lines at 2, one of its pivots 61 being shown with said bearings is provided an axially-positioned socket 63 to receive thelocking pin 64. Thispin is carried in a boss 65 formed on or secured to the side of the gyrohousing or pot 3. This pin has its outer end 66 enlarged, and a spring 67 "is Iprovided,`in a recess formed to receive it, one end of said kspring bearing against the enlarged end 66 pinvwhile its other end bearsl -againsta fixedl abutment 68 through which of the locking the pin passes. This spring 67 -tends to hold the locking pin 64 in the-unlocked 'position as seen in Fig. III. f f

Against the outer face of the enlarged end 66 of the locking pin bears one arm 69-of a bell-crank lever, said lever being pivoted at 70 in a housing 71 that mayforma part of the boss 65 or be otherwise secured to the gyro pot 3i. The other arm 72 of the bell-` crank is arranged within housing 71 to come .opposite an opening 73 in the wall-of the its bearings in the inner gimbal ring 62. In

retain the locking pin in this position a latch 74 is provided, the forward end of which will, by the action of its spring 75,

drop behind the enlarged end 66 ofthe locking pin. l.At the same time'latch74 pushes forward a piston 76 mounted in a bore 77 in boss'65. Communicatingfwith the forward end of said bore is an air' duct 78 that is connected to the starting valve (not shown) of the torpedo. y

Theoperation of this locking mechanism will be apparent from the foregoing `descriptionfand in brief is as follows: By engaging a tool with the short arm 72 of the bell-crank the locking pin is thrust forward against the action of its spring 67 until it enters the locking socket 63 of the inner gimbal ring of the gyro, thus locking the .gimbal .rings Arigidly lto the .gyro a .this movement of the latch 74C also will have mov-ed :forwardithepiston.76.. `fUponthe clisrchargeo thegtorpedo by action .of its vstartfing flever. and mechanism controlled thereby, gair fromith'e compressed air-fiaskisadmitted ltoathe duct V78 :and bore. 77, thereby forcing piston 76 fbackw'ard, lifting 'the 1latch7 4 .and .allowing spring 64 outof qlocking engagement thus. leavingthe gyrofreeto exert its direc'- Y scribed fisas followsz Assuming-itheatorpedo 1 has "been inserted Yin vits discharging'tube I ,l .41,1theigyfro having previouslyfbeeninserted ing- -pin "entered .into its .socket :63 .infthe iniierigimbalfringof thexgyro by l.themechamism-ijustv described,.plug` will :be opposite y `tive force Ito control .the steering `vmechanism yofthe-torpedo.. i

The f operation and'` controlaof the gyro by lthe.starting.and :driving means beforefde- :iny itsplace @inhousing or .pot V3 and the lock- -Hkthe `A:transfer rmechanism vv10. yThe.adjusting yit `a turn and thrust, :thereby:thrustiiigthe vplungers` y130 and w29., respectively,

sleeve 11a-iis theny manipulated, as by; giving 31v finto' "the 'sockets 28 and and pushing the conducting pieces18, 19. vandQO', 21 inwardly intothe positionv shown in.-Fig. II'. Atithe Sametime Y shaftl aenterssocket v58 -serthat the desired setting or adjustment. of -the angle-gear of the tsteering; @mechanism may be made '.-by

,means O that shaft and its connections with or other outside source of current,the .currentI enters ythroughione of .these conductors l ithe cam '60 asx-before explained-.11n :this

.position i of the parts :the vconductorsv 5 1 and 52 lbeing connected. with .the f ships dynamo 51,r through atheplunger '30,'. through-icon- 4ductingpie'ce 1S-fte contact *.pin l37,thence around inside offcasing 13 throughconductor 'Sand -the gimbal ringcontacts vtothe field windings'. 5, -5 carriedbyV the inner gimvbal-ring, and thencebackfthrough conductor .9, lthrough the corresponding path to outside conductor to. ythe outside source of Y lcess of' the minimumraterequired for the power. 'llhegyroiisthus started orspun-and this .spinning -may be at any desiredrate, 4but is vpreferably at .a rate somewhat iin exgyro to exert its `directive force, 'thoughcom v'siderably lower nthanthe rate required for momentum-'driven .gyrosl f ning from the outside source 1 ofpower i may be imaintained as long VV as it `is desirehfl or `until .the proper moment charging Vthe torpedo.

This initial spinarrives :forY ydisi that .my invention overcomes the .obj ection heretofore present of .imparting fagsudden i speed sufficient to exert its y since by the invention herein set forth qthe., l.start-.ing .impulse I617 'to throwithe `locking pin with. thel gyro,`

@gesamtes y tarily-to Athe gyro that is tmanytimes inex-` cess .o that. required :to .drive the gyro at a `directive force n imay bespread over a -considerable interval of timejrelieving ".thedeli- -cate `gyro Imechanism .lfro'mf the shock .01.9.

the f opposite Adirection and ;retracted,'. where# ,andipowerful iinitial spinning force momenfis f alidfshaft- Vwill* be Withdrawn romthe' torpedo fand theftoilpedo will. be xreeytoibeyandQO, 21. backwardto the position shown in .IF-ig. I, `thereby,making acircuit` from;` lthe dynamo 4 inside `the torpedo, through .conductor 11,. around .inside of .casingzl .ductor '19t0 contact vpin 139,l conducting lpiece 1211, l.contact :pin 4Q,. conductor i12 back :to l dyl, J narno .4, thereby ,connecting ithe igyro-motor with 'the dynamov inside thev :torpedo. This dynamo being fdr-iven'jat Aconstant speed byl the motive .powerfof fthe-torpedo, -or -other suitable driving connections @from l fsaidfz-mo.- -tive powcr,.the-gyro isfthusinowdrivenifrom i .sourceaof ,po-werfwithinthe' torpedo. --It will be understood athat as soon as "the plug 45 has .been Withdrawn rin the ,manner )described fthe .torpedo will immediately be dischargedwhereuponlbyaction-.of.iitssstart ing lever, as before explained,tl`i'e -flocking .f me'chanism .shown rin'iFigs vIII and "IV .Will be actuated to -funlockpthe gyro; tiDuring thistime :the 4fmain 'engines of Athe torpcdo y ,are building up -to `their maximum. desiredr speed-andthefgiyro is-being correspondingly. accelerated until Ait reaches a' constant relative :speed corresponding ltoi-the. maximum Ispeedoi theftorpedo. 1; As; it Ahas .heretofore been the practice to provide ;means 'leading :trom outside. `to the `interior ofthe `torpedo,;-such as shaftsf. 56 .and 58 foi-.setting y.the anglfeffgear of the 'steeringmechanism, I :have 'utilized this same point of outside connectiongforfleading .intothe interior-0f lthe f tolpedothe poweri. for1initially spinning-the gyro;and-by4 com-y Y bining the youtside `power-i connections with those for v adjusting the .anglefgear `I am en,

.abledto avoid a plurality; ofopenings in'the Itorpedo and `dischange tube. And urthen Ig'haye also utilized the -same means-required rior inserting. and@ withdrawing thengl- 1t `will thus/be seen .gear .adj usting device (s'haft f56) for also inserting and Withdrawingthe.outsidepoyver y Change. the:

connections. f therebyido ,not

..drawaloftplug'c as describedfspringsi l y 1and.2 5 will throw conducting pieces 1.8,?19

tov contact pin. .38, conducting V"piece .'19, contact .pin 37, around inside fof Acasing 13 v through conductor-8 to the :field `windings 5, fiiofthe gyromotoriandback through conf existing method of preparing the torpedo for discharge or add complication to the aimingand discharging devices.

It will be obvious that various modications in the several .parts of the mechanism l shown and described may be made by those V"skilled in the art without departing from vfiWhat I claim is:

Y 1. In torpedo apparatus the combination Y Y -of an insert plug for inserting into the torpedo from outside thereof, power connections from an outside source of power carried by said plug for driving the gyro,

vineans carried by the torpedo for driving the gyro, a transferring device carried by the Y torpedo for transferring the gyro from the last-mentioned driving means to the outside driving means, said transferring device actuated by the insertion and withdrawal of j said plug. v v 2. Ink torpedo apparatus the combination with the gyro carried by the torpedo of elecy trical driving means carried by the torpedo for driving the gyro, electrical driving ,means exterior of the torpedo for driving the gyro, an insert plug having connections from the exterior gyro-drivingl means, a

yswitch-device, and means for actuating said i switch device by the insertion and withdrawal of the plug for transferring the gyro from one of its driving means to the other.

' 3.V In torpedo apparatus the combination vof anv insert plug for inserting into the torpedo from outside thereof, angle-fire adjusting means carried vby said plug, connections from an outside source of power for driving the gyro of the torpedo also carried by said plug, means carried by the torpedo for driving the gyro, and a transferring device for transferring the gyro from one of its said driving means to the other, said transferring device actuated by the insertion and withdrawal of said plu 4:. In an automo ile torpedo, the combination with the gyro of electrical means for driving the same, a casing within the torpedo and surrounding an opening in the torpedo wall, a switch device and an angleire adjusting means carried within said casing and accessible from the exterior of the torpedo through said aperture, said switch device interposed in the connections between the gyro and its driving means, and a device exterior of the torpedo insertible in said aperture for operating` said switch-device and also the angle-lire adjusting means.

5. In torpedo apparatus, means for initially spinning the gyro while the torpedo is in the discharging tube preparatory to its discharge, saidmeans comprising in combination a plug slidably mounted in the wall of the torpedo tube to be projected through an aperturel therein, spinning connections from an exterior source of power carried by said plug, a switch-device vmounted within the torpedo and operatively exposed to the vexterior thereof, said switch-device registering with the aperture in the torpedo-tube,

means within the torpedo and connected to the gyro for drivingkthe latter throughout the run of the torpedo, said switch-device controlling the connections between the gyro and both its driving means and spinning means, and means carried by said plug for operating said switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT H; BOUSON. Witnesses:

A. G. MILLER,

HENRY C. WORKMAN.

`(.czpies of this patent may be obtainednfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

